Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Visits Pinters for "Iowa Ag Week"

DECORAH, Iowa—Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig used a northeast Iowa stop Thursday to promote locally grown products and agritourism while underscoring mounting financial pressures facing farmers, saying profitability concerns are dominating the outlook for the 2026 growing season. Naig's visit to Pinters Gardens & Pumpkins in Decorah, was part of a broader Iowa Ag. Week tour that included stops in Mason City, Postville, Farmersburg and Waucoma. The tour focused on highlighting agriculture's economic role, connecting with producers and promoting the state's "Choose Iowa" program. "It's Iowa Ag.. Week, and so [we're] really getting across the state, spending a lot of time visiting farms and businesses and families," Naig said in an interview during the Decorah stop. "This is really just part of my effort to get across the state, highlight Iowa's agriculture, and the value of that agriculture to our communities." At Pinters, Naig emphasized the rapid growth of the Choose Iowa initiative, which promotes products that are grown, raised or made in the state. The program now includes more than 340 members across 90 counties, roughly doubling its participation over the past year, he noted. The program is designed to respond to shifting consumer preferences, particularly increased interest in local sourcing and transparency in food production. "They want to buy locally, they want to shop locally. They want to know where things are coming from," Naig said. "Buy fresh, buy nutritious food, and have experiences." Pinters, which features a gift shop, bakery, garden center, event space and seasonal attractions, illustrates how farms and rural businesses are diversifying revenue streams through agritourism. The site also produces and sells honey from on-site bee hives and offers hands-on experiences that connect consumers directly to agriculture. Naig said those types of operations play a key role in strengthening local economies by keeping dollars within communities while also expanding market access for producers. "We're all about trying to build markets wherever we can," he said, pointing to opportunities ranging from local retail to international exports. "If it's at the very local level and all the diversity that we have in Iowa agriculture, that's what we're really trying to highlight." Despite the positive momentum around local marketing efforts, Naig said farmers across the state are facing significant economic strain driven by a mismatch between commodity prices and production costs. "The headline is the profitability challenge," he said. "I'm hearing that from folks." Naig said prices for key crops such as corn and soybeans are not keeping pace with high input costs, including fuel, fertilizer and equipment, leaving many producers in financially unsustainable positions. "The cost of production exceeds the value of the crop," he said. "That is not sustainable. It's not profitable." Uncertainty in supply chains and broader market volatility are adding to the strain, he said, complicating planning decisions ahead of the next growing season. Naig also pointed to frustration among farmers over federal policy uncertainty, particularly regarding E15 fuel, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol, "We think it's past time for Congress to act, to give us year round nationwide acess to E15", he stated. According to Naig, In Iowa, more than half of fuel stations offer E15, and its use has generated significant savings for consumers. Over the past three years, he said, Iowans have saved about $125 million annually by using E15 instead of E10. "It works in Iowa. Why can't we have that across the country?" he said. Naig noted that while a recent federal emergency waiver allows for broader seasonal access, long-term certainty from Congress is needed to stabilize demand and support the ethanol industry. Expanded E15 access could increase corn demand by an estimated 2 billion bushels, he said, "That would have an impact," Naig said. Beyond fuel policy, Naig stressed the importance of passing a new federal farm bill and addressing other policy areas to provide stability for producers. At the state level, he pointed to ongoing legislative work related to agriculture, including efforts tied to property taxes and broader farm policy initiatives. While federal assistance programs have provided some financial relief, Naig said they are not a substitute for strong markets. "Nobody wants to be in a situation where we need that kind of support," he said. "But unfortunately, it's necessary." Instead, he said, long-term solutions must focus on increasing demand, lowering input costs and ensuring consistent policy signals. "It really is about working on all fronts," Naig said. Later stops on Naig's tour reinforced those themes across different sectors of agriculture. In Postville, he planned to visit a dairy operation that received a Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant to install robotic milking technology, highlighting efforts to improve efficiency and address labor challenges. In Farmersburg, a visit to a cattle operation focused on conservation practices such as rotational grazing and erosion control. The day concluded in Waucoma, where Naig was scheduled to speak at a fundraiser focused on mental health in agriculture, an issue gaining increasing attention as financial stress and uncertainty weigh on farm families. Naig said recognizing agriculture's broader importance remains a key goal of Iowa Ag. Week. "We want our Ag. community and our farmers to be proud of what they do," he said. "They are an essential part of what drives the American experience." He added that agriculture underpins not only the economy but also national stability. "Because we have food and agriculture security, we can have economic security and national security," Naig said. "Everybody benefits from a strong agriculture, and we have a lot to be thankful for."